The Residence stretching between Max-Joseph-Platz and Odeonsplatz was seat of the Wittelsbach dukes, electors and kings until the revolution in 1918. It has developped out of the so called "Neuveste (New Stronghold)" which was built at the Apothecary Court in the 14th c. Under the Apothecary Court the foundations of its towers and casemates are still to be seen. When the city was extended in the 14th c. the Alte Hof (Old Residence) was situated unsufficiently secure in the middle of the city. As the royal family had to be afraid of riots they fled to the north eastern edge of the second city fortification and built a new stronghold. Duke Albrecht IV. extended the Neuveste to a four wing water stronghold. The most famous construction phases were the Antiquarium (Hall of Antiquities) with antique statues and busts erected under Duke Albrecht V. end of the 16th c. , the Grotto Court under Duke Wilhelm V., the Maximilian Residence around the Emperor's Court in the 17th c. with the beautiful trompe-l'oeil painting at the western facade and the "Patrona Bavariae" by Hans Krumper in a niche of the facade. In the 18th c. Elector Max III. Joseph commissioned Francois de Cuvilliés to build the Old Residence Theatre for the royal family. Finally King Ludwig I. finished the complex with the impressive neo-classical Klenze buildings Königsbau (King's Tract), Festsaalbau (Festival Hall building) and Allerheiligen-Hofkirche (Court Church of All Saints).
The whole Residence complex comprises 7 courtyards and has developped to its current extend in 4 centuries. One of the finest courtyards is the octagonal Brunnenhof (Fountain Court). Its facade is decorated with trompe-l'oeil painting. The fountain in the middle of the court is crowned by an ancestor of the Wittelsbach family: Duke Theodo of the Agilolfing family. The bronze figure was desigend by Hans Krumper. The four lying river gods symbolize the four big rivers in Bavaria: Donau, Isar, Lech, Inn. In summer open-air concerts take place at the Brunnenhof. The interior rooms of the Residence represent the different art periods from late Renaissance over Baroque and Rococo to Classicism. Although 95 % of the roof were destroyed in the Second World War it was decided to rebuild the Residence. During the War most of the precious objects could be stored in places of safety. Today the Residence is one of the largest museums of interior in the world. Inside you find the Residence Museum, the Treasury, the State Collection of Coins, the Bavarian Academy of Science, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Spanish Cultural Institue and the State Collection of Egyptian Art.
U-Bahn: U3, U6 to Marienplatz, U4, U5 to Odeonsplatz
S-Bahn: S1 - S8 to Marienplatz
Tram No. 19 to Max-Joseph-Platz